Additional Mcoca judges appointed

The Bombay high court was informed on Wednesday that additional judges are being appointed for the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (Mcoca) courts across various districts to ensure speedy disposal of cases.

A division bench of justices AS Oka and SS Jadhav, hearing a petition filed by Mohammed Iqbal, an accused in the 2010 Pune German Bakery bomb blast case, was informed about the decision by the administrative department of the high court.

Iqbal has sought speedy disposal of cases under Mcoca. In the last hearing, the court had directed its administration section to put forth the position on availability and appointment of additional judges to hear these cases.

Appearing for the administration, additional government pleader Sudeep Nargolkar, told the court that a decision has now been taken to appoint additional special judges for Thane, Raigad, Alibaug and the rest of Maharashtra.

"For Raigad and Alibaug, two more judges will be appointed and for Thane, one additional judge will be appointed. For the remaining districts of Maharashtra, nine additional judges will be appointed," Nargolkar said.

The state government has also been asked to consider creating a review committee which would consider whether the imposition of the act in specific cases is justified.